The Ogun State government has flagged off the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) aimed at empowering small holder farmers, as well as to encourage youths and women in agricultural practices for increased food production.

Speaking during the official flag off ceremony and sensitisation on SAPZ at Odogbolu Local Council, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Bolu Owotomo, said the state had long been recognised as a leader in agriculture due to its rich natural resources, fertile land and strategic locations as a gateway state to major markets in Nigeria and beyond.

Owotomo, who urged the youths to come out en-masse to register for the programme, explained that the commencement of SAPZ in the state would unlock opportunities for improved food security, job creations, agri-preneur, import substitution, as well as reduced rural poverty.

He added that the new project would empower 100,000 direct beneficiaries and 500,000 indirect beneficiaries, comprising 50 per cent women, 40 per cent youth and 10 per cent people living with disabilities.

According to him: “Ogun State is promoting Cassava, Rice, Cocoa, Oil Palm and Timber, while nine local council areas have been earmarked to benefit from the project in the first phase, which include Ijebu East, Ijebu North East, Odogbolu, Ikenne, Ijebu North, Obafemi-Owode, Odeda,Yewa North and Yewa South, while other local councils would be incorporated in phase 11 of the project.”

The programme, according to Owotomo, has four broad components, which includes, Infrastructural Development and Management of Agro-Industrial Hubs, Agricultural Productivity, Production and Market Linkages in SAPZ Catchment Areas, Policy and Institutional Development Support, as well as Programme Coordination and Management.

He noted that the first phase of the SAPZ was designed as a tool for creating integrated agricultural focused platforms that would accelerate private sector investment in the value chain for actors.

In her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, MrsKehindeJokotoye, who also doubles as the state programmecoordinator, said government would continue to play its roles in supporting farmers in the state with inputs distribution, irrigation facilities, empowerment programmes and capacity building.

Also, in his remark, the Chairman, OdogboluLocal Council, BabatundeDiya, who was represented by the Supervising Councilor on Agriculture, FakoyaAfuwape, said the council is on course to key into the initiative to advance agricultural production, processing, as well as improved livelihood of farmers.

The resource person, MrAdeosun Samuel, who spoke extensively to farmers on agricultural value chain actors, lauded the efforts of the government and measures put in place towards increasing the productivity of farmers.

In their separate goodwill messages, the President of the Progressive Farmers’ Association, Mr. Adesola Ogundare and the Youth Representative, MrsTaiwoOluwakemi, appreciated government’s timely intervention and expressed optimism that it would boost their productivity, as well as create market linkages both locally and globally.

Recall that the Ogun State Government through the Federal Government of Nigeria joined six other states such as Kano, Kaduna, Kwara, Cross River, Oyo and Imo, as well as the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja to apply for credit from the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the lnternational Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) under the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones.